Falafel Pita- fresh multi-grain pita, three falafel balls, tahini yogurt sauce, and seasonal vegetables
Grizzle Sandwich—grilled and marinated tempeh, on a multi-grain bun with garlic sauce and seasonal vegetables
Salmon Burger – wild Alaskan salmon patty on whole wheat bread with greens, onions, veganaise, and pickles
Tubes- locally pastured beef sausage on a grilled whole grain bun with homemade sauerkraut, grilled onions and mushrooms, and horseradish mustard
Greener Salad- salad of the day our house tamari-ginger dressing
Fritter Fratters- a mix of fried root vegetables including potatoes, beets, yams, and turnips
Grain and Beans- rotating selection (for cheaply!)
Soup- of the day
Flaming Tater Salad- local potatoes, mustard, veganaise, celery, carrots, olives, pickles, fresh garlic, and leafy greens, spiced with fresh dill, turmeric, and cumin
Tea of the Day- frosty or hot tea
Coffee- cup o’ toddy
Kombucha- fermented tea, chilled to bubbly perfection
Local Cider- apple or blackberry
Dessert- cookies, croissants, scones, muffins, bars, and cakes
Organic Fresh Fruit- you get the picture
The Flaming Eggplant believes in developing relationships with local growers and providers of high quality food, produced using sustainable practices. When possible, we procure food from sources embodying these ideals, evolving the methods our society uses to sustain itself. We support political boycotts, organic growing methods, fair trade, healthy and happy living conditions for animals, non GMO, live, fresh, raw, and most of all yummy food.
Hey Potential Eggplant Folks,
This is a tentative list of job descriptions and availability. Hopefully this gives you some idea of the production plan for the Eggplant. We’ll be narrowing down our food production plans in the next month or two as we finalize recipies and get a firm grip on what cooking and the daily grind of producing food is going to look like. Student workers at Evergreen can work a maximum of 19 hours per week, so we’ll work with everyone once we figure out your schedules to co-ordinate hours. Until then, numbers of people and exact hours are subject to change, but tentatively, here are the job descriptions for this Fall’s Flaming Eggplant Café!
• the crew
Production Plan
HOW IT WORKS – Production Plan
The Flaming Eggplant is going to be serving food out of a vending trailer on Red Square (right in front of the lecture halls!). All food will be cooked and bought in the trailer on Red Square. Per the Thurston County health code, as a “mobile food unit” we’re required to have a separate space for prepping food, so we have a commissary trailer where all food will be prepped. The commissary trailer (base) will be located outside the central utilities plant, which is near the COM building.
We’ll be opening at 8AM daily for breakfast. Breakfast will be all cold food at this time, pastries, bagels, etc. At 11AM we’ll open for lunch (see the menu for details) and close at 2PM.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS – What it is
Co-ordinators: 2 to 3
Availability: filled by Julianne and Giselle
Hours: none set
The café seeks to employ two to three long-term coordinators. This is a position with more long-term involvement and investment required than some of the other positions. Stipulations of the job include a mandatory minimum three quarter work agreement. This will serve to bridge the gap of a rotating student labor force. The purpose of this employee is to learn the ‘ups and downs’ of the business so that past mistakes can be learned from and successes can be repeated. The coordinators are encouraged to keep a log of important considerations so that should the position shift to another individual, the institutional memory remains intact. The coordinators receive a stipend of $524.67 every 6 weeks. The co-ordinators’s responsibilities include: scheduling quarterly meetings, purchasing food and equipment, hiring and firing applicants, developing seasonal menus with the rest of the staff’s input, and working closely with Evergreen accounting to assure these decisions are made with financial prudence, and general oversight of operations / keeping the wheels oiled!
Hot Cook / Cold Cook
Availability: 2-3 filled, hiring up to 5 more depending on scheduling and hours people want to work
Hours: 8AM to close after 2PM
The hot cook and cold are the daily employees who run the café. They come in at around 8AM to the commissary trailer to help prep and move food to the vending trailer, and start serving hot lunch at 11AM out of the vending trailer. At any time there is one hot cook, and one cold cook in the vending trailer, and one cashier (who can also be the breakfast person, as the duties are mostly the same).
Breakfast Opener / Cashier
Availability: 1 filled, hiring 2-3 more again depending on scheduling and hours people want to work
Hours: 7:30AM to 11AM, 11AM – 2:30PM, hours can be combined and variable
Breakfast opener comes in at 7:30ish to open for 8AM. They are, in the breakfast hours, the only one in the vending trailer (until the hot and cold cook come in to prep for lunch at 11AM), so they are also the cashier. Only employees designated as cashiers operate the cash register, to prevent confusion and mishandling of the cash. After lunch starts the breakfast opener can either leave, and a new cashier comes in, or stay longer. Cashiers stay until 2PM and help close.
Prep Cook / Runner
Availability: 1 filled, hiring 1-3 more
Hours: 7:30AM to 3:30-4PM, hours variable
The prep cook works exclusively at base and is also the runner to and forth from the commissary trailer to the vending trailer, which involves taking all prepped food to the vending trailer from the commissary throughout the day. The prep cook opens and closes the commissary, and stays until prep for the next day is done. Hours are flexible – we could do prep in the evenings for the next day, or early in the morning, etc. The running may be done in electric vehicle or by bike cargo trailer, so applicants interested need to be down with biking food around a lot!
Suppliers
Evergreen Organic Farm Local produce.
8 Arms Community Bakery Morning pastries.
Blue Heron Bakery Sandwich and pita bread.
Golden Glen Creamery Milk.
Western Meats Sausage.
Lattin's Country Cider Mill and Farm Yummy apple and blackberry cider.
Community Agroecolology Network Coffee.
Olympia Food Co-op Assorted necessities.
South Sound Foodshed Project Local food sourcing project.
Bylaws
I. General
1. NAME The name of the student run café funded by student fees is The Flaming Eggplant Café (hereinafter the Café).
2. PURPOSES The café has been formed under the Memorandum of Understanding between The Evergreen State College (TESC) and the Café as a student-run alternative to existing food service. The purpose of the Café is to use seasonal recipes based on food that is locally available and organically grown [and] to provide more enjoyable, nutritional, tasty, and ecologically sound food to TESC.
The mission is to nourish people with healthy ingredients, nurture local economy with our business, and break social boundaries to help sustain a unified community.
II. Membership
1. ELIGIBILITY All current students are members of the Café.
2. NON-DISCRIMINATION The Café strives to be egalitarian in all aspects of its business operations. The Café works to serve a diverse population by incorporating procedures and practices that remove barriers to classes of people who are oppressed or are denied power and privilege in society generally. These classes of people include people who are discriminated against based on race, sex, religious creed, age, disability, size, sexual orientation, gender orientation, marital status and economic status.
3. ANNUAL MEETING An annual meeting of the membership shall be held in May each year. Members will be notified of the place, day, and hour of the meeting prior to the meeting. In addition, notice of the meeting shall be posted at the Café at least 10 days prior. There must be the total number of employees and coordinators plus five in attendance at the annual meeting. The meeting will be lead by the coordinators, who are responsible for scheduling and providing notice of the annual meeting.
4. PURPOSE The purpose of the annual meeting is to provide an opportunity for the Board of Advisors (hereinafter the Board) and members to discuss the activities of the Café, this will be a forum for an exchange of information about the Café. The coordinators shall establish the agenda for the annual meeting in a manner that allows for Members to propose agenda items. Voting Members will elect Board members for the following year. Member proposals that require a vote must be submitted to the coordinators at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting.
5. MEMBER VOTING No proxies are allowed and each present member shall have one vote. Unless otherwise specified in these bylaws, or by law, a simple majority vote of those in attendance is required for elections and other membership actions. Additional rules and procedures for elections shall be set up by the coordinators as appropriate.
6. SPECIAL MEETING Half of the members that voted at the previous annual meeting may petition for a special meeting of the membership to take place within 90 days from the filing of the petition with the Board. The petition shall state the business to be discussed at the special meeting and the meeting shall be limited to such business. The Board may also call special meetings. The members shall be notified of the special meeting 10 days prior and the notice shall contain the time, place, and agenda of the special meeting. Coordinators are responsible for scheduling and facilitating special meetings.
7. COMMUNICATION Members shall maintain free-flowing communication with the Board, Staff, and other members.
III. Board of Advisors
1. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES The affairs of the Café shall be managed by a Board of Advisors.
2. NUMBER, AND TERM The Board shall consist of nine members. The Board will consist of one staff selected by the vice president of student affairs, one staff selected by the vice president for finance and administration, one faculty and one staff selected by the membership of the Café, and five students selected by the membership. Of those five students one must be a coordinator, one must be a non-coordinator, and one must not be directly involved in the Café. Student members must be enrolled at least two quarters during a calendar year. Board members will serve for one twelve month term, which will last from October 1 through September 30. Board members terms are renewable after confirmation by vote of members at the annual meeting.
3. ELIGIBILITY Any member is eligible to serve on the Board.
4. ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS Board members shall be elected by the membership, except for the staff representatives appointed by the vice president. The Board may prescribe the manner and procedures for membership elections, except that elections shall be held annually. Coordinators are responsible for presenting a ballot to the annual meeting. The membership will decide which coordinators will sit on the Board.
5. VACANCIES In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Advisors, the remaining Board members may appoint a new advisor. The appointed advisor shall serve until the next Board election. Any Board appointed advisor is eligible to run for an elected term at the next election.
6. DECISION MAKING Board decisions are made by consensus minus-one. In the even that consensus minus-one is not reached the Board can send an issue for vote to the annual meeting or special meeting.
7. QUORUM For purposes of Board action, unless otherwise specified or required by law, a quorum shall be a majority of the seats currently filled. The Board may not convene without at least five seats filled.
8. CONFLICT OF INTEREST Advisors shall be under an affirmative duty to disclose an actual or potential conflict of interest in any matter under consideration by the Board. Advisors having such an interest may not participate in the discussion or decision of the matter unless otherwise determined by the Board.
9. REIMBURSEMENT The Café may, if authorized by a general Board resolution, reimburse individual advisors for transportation and or childcare expenses required to attend Board and committee meetings. To be eligible for reimbursement the advisor must be present for the entire meeting.
10. REMOVAL Any of the nine advisors or group coordinators may be removed by the Board whenever the Board determines that such removal will be in the best interest of the Café. Before an advisor or coordinator is removed, they shall be given two weeks prior notice and an opportunity to speak before the Board at a regular meeting. Removal shall require a consensus minus-one vote of the Board.
11. RESIGNATION An advisor may resign by submitting a written resignation to the Board with thirty days notice. Absence from three (3) Board meetings in a Board members term without providing prior notification shall constitute resignation from the Board. Exceptions to this policy may be made by consensus of the Board.
12. BOARD DUTIES Except as to matters reserved to membership by law or by these bylaws, the business and affairs of the Café shall be directed by the Board of Advisors. The major duties of the Board are to:
0. 1. appoint facilitator and note taker at each meeting The coordinators will convenes the Board, and be responsible for keeping minutes, creating the agenda and passing on records;
0. 2. maintain bylaws and keep minutes of meetings;
0. 3. approve an operating budget annually;
0. 4. monitor the financial health of the Café;
0. 5. appoint standing and special committees as needed;
0. 6. approve major capital projects of over $3300 per item;
0. 7. maintain free-flowing communication between the Board, Staff, committees, and the membership;
0. 8. resolve organizational conflicts after all other avenues of resolution have been exhausted;
0. 9. authorize debt obligations of the Café over $5000;
0. 10. provide an annual report to the members to include a financial report, committee reports, and a summary of other significant events held and actions taken by the Café during the year.
11. approve students selection of the Café’s coordinators.
13. SUPREMACY The Board shall not exercise any power under these bylaws which is in conflict with the Memorandum of Understanding or applicable law.
14. MEETINGS It is recommended that the Board meet at least ten times per year and the Board is required to meet a minimum of four times per year. Board meetings shall normally be open to the membership. The Board may close meetings at its discretion to discuss personnel matters, legal matters, or other items which require private discussion. Extra Board meetings or special meetings may be called at the discretion of the Board or by petition of 25 members, provided that the petition specifies the business to be conducted at the meeting. Votes may be taken at a special meeting for the business the meeting was called for if the membership was notified 10 days prior.
15. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING The Board may act without meeting if all advisors consent. The action shall be recorded in writing at the time it is made and included in the minutes of the next Board meeting. Any action taken under this procedure shall be fully effective.
IV. Staff and Coordinators
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES The major responsibilities of the Staff and Coordinators are to:
A. Coordinators will be selected at a public meeting during spring quarter for the following fall quarter. Coordinators must have prior experience with the café.
B. Coordinators are responsible for hiring hourly student labor.
C. Keep the store functioning and open regular hours. This includes promptness.
D. Present comprehensive financial statements to the Board quarterly or as requested and prepare books for the end of the fiscal year on June 30th;
E. Work with the accounting office to ensure accurate financial management;
F. Maintain accurate and up-to-date business records, articles, membership meeting minutes, staff meeting minutes, and required reports; and make these documents accessible to members.
G. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the names and addresses of all business entities with an active relationship with the café;
H. Maintain adequate food service insurance;
I. Regularly update the Board about personnel policies and employee benefit programs;
J. Maintain systems for control of all operations;
K. Maintain adequate channels for taking and responding to member suggestions, recommendations, and complaints;
L. Maintain all facilities in good repair and in sanitary and safe condition;
M. Provide effective and consistent programs for consumer information;
N. Maintain free-flowing communication between Staff, Board, committees, and the membership;
O. Carry out Board decisions and/or membership decisions made in compliance with these bylaws;
P. Carry out all activities and act in accordance with applicable law;
Q. Approve the make-up of hiring committee, approve job descriptions, and approve a hiring policy;
R. Fill Board vacancies as needed;
S. Adopt major policy changes and review Café future plans;
T. Ensure compliance with all TESC obligations as well as local and state government requirements;
U. Establish and review the café goals and objectives;
V. Adopt policies which promote achievement of the mission statement and goals of the Café.
V. Dissolution
1. BOARD ACTION In order to voluntarily dissolve the Café, the Board of Advisors must adopt a resolution recommending dissolution and direct that the question of dissolution be submitted to a vote of the membership.
2. NOTICE Appropriate notice of the vote must be provided by Special Meeting Clause in the Bylaws.
3. VOTE NEEDED The Café can be dissolved by a 2/3 vote of the active voting membership. No other business may be transacted at a special meeting called for the purpose of dissolving the Café or on a ballot issued at the special meeting for the purpose of dissolving the Café.
4. PROCEDURE Upon dissolution of the Café the Board shall supervise the conclusion of business, the paying of debts, and the distribution of assets.
VII. Amendment
These bylaws may be changed by the Board of Advisors with 30 days written notice to the membership. For changes to the bylaws to come into effect, it must be voted on at the annual meeting or a special meeting.
These Bylaws came into effect on the inaugural meeting of the Board of Advisors, July 15, 2008.
Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of Understanding for Flaming Eggplant Café Student Initiative
The Flaming Eggplant’s mission, goals, and scope as of spring 2008 include:
0. Mission: “The Flaming Eggplant seeks to nourish people with healthy ingredients, nurture local economy with our business, and break social boundaries to help sustain a unified community.”
0. Goals: “To use seasonal recipes based on food that is locally available and organically grown [and] to provide more enjoyable, nutritional, tasty, and ecologically sound food to T.E.S.C.”
0. Scope: Operate a student-run café via a custom-designed food trailer in Red Square and a prep kitchen located outside of the Campus Utilities Plant from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning in September of 2008. The hours of operation may expand in the future. The Café will relocate to a designated space in the CAB following the renovation.
In light of the substantial costs and risks associated with this initiative the College and Café have identified stipulations described below within which the Café may operate. The College will provide qualified professional advising to the student leaders of the Café, during start-up and early establishment, in an effort to support the Café’s success in meeting the stated expectations. In the future, as it is deemed viable and necessary by the Board of Advisors, funding for advisors’ time, a dedicated full-time manager, and the supervision of the manager must be identified by the Flaming Eggplant.
The Vice President for Student Affairs and the Vice President for Finance and Administration, as College representatives, reserve the right and responsibility to temporarily pause or permanently halt operations of the Café at any time. The Board should be consulted when the College is considering restricting operations. The Board of Advisors also has the responsibility to pause or halt operations if it deems it necessary. Cause for temporarily or permanently halting operations includes, but is not limited to, failure to adhere to one or more stipulations identified in this memorandum.
Stipulations for the Café to operate are as follows:
BOARD OF ADVISORS
The Flaming Eggplant must, in partnership with the Vice Presidents, establish a Board of Advisors to provide oversight for the Café. The Board should meet twice per quarter throughout the year. The Board should be composed of the following:
two advisors appointed by the Vice Presidents;
one faculty and one staff identified by the Flaming Eggplant leadership; and
five student representatives of the Café.
The Flaming Eggplant is responsible for convening the Board.
APPROVALS
The Campus Land Use Committee (CLUC) approves the use of the location. The exterior of the Café facilities must be consistently maintained to the satisfaction of the CLUC.
The Space Management Committee approves the use of space for storage and a prep kitchen in the CAB.
The food service provider and the College approve an exception to the Exclusive Rights clause of the contract with the College’s food service provider. As per the College’s contract, Aramark has exclusive access to provide on-campus catering services and to provide meal plan packages.
The Café must obtain and maintain an Operating Permit from Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department. The Café must demonstrate that it can consistently meet county health codes and pass impromptu county health department visits. Copies of health inspection reports must be submitted to the Adviser within 24 hours of receipt.
Adviser approves Business Plan including but not limited to cost and revenue projections, staffing model, and planned equipment purchases.
Adviser approves staff job descriptions
Business Services approves all cash handling policies.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT
All funds collected by the Café will be deposited into the appropriate College accounts on a daily basis and will be handled according to Business Services’ approved policies.
Sales revenue and labor costs must be documented daily and these plus the cost of sales must be submitted weekly to the Adviser.
Monthly profit/lost statements must be submitted to the Advisor by third day of the following month.
The S&A Board and by relationship the Café, is responsible for the fiscal integrity of the Café. The S&A board may choose to delegate responsibility for and approval of capital expenditures to the Board of Advisors, with the stipulation that The Flaming Eggplant update the S&A board twice annually. The College recognizes the opportunity of the Café to pursue alternate funding sources.
GENERAL
Only enrolled students may engage in leadership of the Flaming Eggplant Initiative.
The College recognizes that the Café meets a need for food alternatives on campus. As such, the Café may be come a valuable resource of the Evergreen community, particularly during the CAB renovation.
The College and the Advisory Board reserve the right to request modification of this memorandum at any time if the changes that may result will be implemented at least one month after the request.
The Flaming Eggplant
Table of Contents
Contacts
Website: http://academic.evergreen.edu/groups/flamingeggplant/
Email us: contact@theflamingeggplant.org
Coordinators
Julianne: julianne@theflamingeggplant.org
Giselle: giselle@theflamingeggplant.org
Yumteam Captains
T-Claw: roundandpointy@gmail.com
Dan: chaotepioneers@gmail.com
Kate: remember1923@gmail.com
Business Plan
Click here to see the Flaming Eggplant Business PlanAlso see their recommendations for our business plan.
Finances
Master Financial Plan: fe_master_4-13_updated.xlsProduct Pricing: Yumteam_Pricing_9-27-08.xls
Request for Quotation (item info): RFQ 1-31.xls
History
Menu
Falafel Pita- fresh multi-grain pita, three falafel balls, tahini yogurt sauce, and seasonal vegetablesGrizzle Sandwich—grilled and marinated tempeh, on a multi-grain bun with garlic sauce and seasonal vegetables
Salmon Burger – wild Alaskan salmon patty on whole wheat bread with greens, onions, veganaise, and pickles
Tubes- locally pastured beef sausage on a grilled whole grain bun with homemade sauerkraut, grilled onions and mushrooms, and horseradish mustard
Greener Salad- salad of the day our house tamari-ginger dressing
Fritter Fratters- a mix of fried root vegetables including potatoes, beets, yams, and turnips
Grain and Beans- rotating selection (for cheaply!)
Soup- of the day
Flaming Tater Salad- local potatoes, mustard, veganaise, celery, carrots, olives, pickles, fresh garlic, and leafy greens, spiced with fresh dill, turmeric, and cumin
Tea of the Day- frosty or hot tea
Coffee- cup o’ toddy
Kombucha- fermented tea, chilled to bubbly perfection
Local Cider- apple or blackberry
Dessert- cookies, croissants, scones, muffins, bars, and cakes
Organic Fresh Fruit- you get the picture
The Flaming Eggplant believes in developing relationships with local growers and providers of high quality food, produced using sustainable practices. When possible, we procure food from sources embodying these ideals, evolving the methods our society uses to sustain itself. We support political boycotts, organic growing methods, fair trade, healthy and happy living conditions for animals, non GMO, live, fresh, raw, and most of all yummy food.
Hey Potential Eggplant Folks,
This is a tentative list of job descriptions and availability. Hopefully this gives you some idea of the production plan for the Eggplant. We’ll be narrowing down our food production plans in the next month or two as we finalize recipies and get a firm grip on what cooking and the daily grind of producing food is going to look like. Student workers at Evergreen can work a maximum of 19 hours per week, so we’ll work with everyone once we figure out your schedules to co-ordinate hours. Until then, numbers of people and exact hours are subject to change, but tentatively, here are the job descriptions for this Fall’s Flaming Eggplant Café!
• the crew
Production Plan
HOW IT WORKS – Production PlanThe Flaming Eggplant is going to be serving food out of a vending trailer on Red Square (right in front of the lecture halls!). All food will be cooked and bought in the trailer on Red Square. Per the Thurston County health code, as a “mobile food unit” we’re required to have a separate space for prepping food, so we have a commissary trailer where all food will be prepped. The commissary trailer (base) will be located outside the central utilities plant, which is near the COM building.
We’ll be opening at 8AM daily for breakfast. Breakfast will be all cold food at this time, pastries, bagels, etc. At 11AM we’ll open for lunch (see the menu for details) and close at 2PM.
JOB DESCRIPTIONS – What it is
Co-ordinators: 2 to 3
Availability: filled by Julianne and Giselle
Hours: none set
The café seeks to employ two to three long-term coordinators. This is a position with more long-term involvement and investment required than some of the other positions. Stipulations of the job include a mandatory minimum three quarter work agreement. This will serve to bridge the gap of a rotating student labor force. The purpose of this employee is to learn the ‘ups and downs’ of the business so that past mistakes can be learned from and successes can be repeated. The coordinators are encouraged to keep a log of important considerations so that should the position shift to another individual, the institutional memory remains intact. The coordinators receive a stipend of $524.67 every 6 weeks. The co-ordinators’s responsibilities include: scheduling quarterly meetings, purchasing food and equipment, hiring and firing applicants, developing seasonal menus with the rest of the staff’s input, and working closely with Evergreen accounting to assure these decisions are made with financial prudence, and general oversight of operations / keeping the wheels oiled!
Hot Cook / Cold Cook
Availability: 2-3 filled, hiring up to 5 more depending on scheduling and hours people want to work
Hours: 8AM to close after 2PM
The hot cook and cold are the daily employees who run the café. They come in at around 8AM to the commissary trailer to help prep and move food to the vending trailer, and start serving hot lunch at 11AM out of the vending trailer. At any time there is one hot cook, and one cold cook in the vending trailer, and one cashier (who can also be the breakfast person, as the duties are mostly the same).
Breakfast Opener / Cashier
Availability: 1 filled, hiring 2-3 more again depending on scheduling and hours people want to work
Hours: 7:30AM to 11AM, 11AM – 2:30PM, hours can be combined and variable
Breakfast opener comes in at 7:30ish to open for 8AM. They are, in the breakfast hours, the only one in the vending trailer (until the hot and cold cook come in to prep for lunch at 11AM), so they are also the cashier. Only employees designated as cashiers operate the cash register, to prevent confusion and mishandling of the cash. After lunch starts the breakfast opener can either leave, and a new cashier comes in, or stay longer. Cashiers stay until 2PM and help close.
Prep Cook / Runner
Availability: 1 filled, hiring 1-3 more
Hours: 7:30AM to 3:30-4PM, hours variable
The prep cook works exclusively at base and is also the runner to and forth from the commissary trailer to the vending trailer, which involves taking all prepped food to the vending trailer from the commissary throughout the day. The prep cook opens and closes the commissary, and stays until prep for the next day is done. Hours are flexible – we could do prep in the evenings for the next day, or early in the morning, etc. The running may be done in electric vehicle or by bike cargo trailer, so applicants interested need to be down with biking food around a lot!
Suppliers
Evergreen Organic Farm Local produce.
8 Arms Community Bakery Morning pastries.
Blue Heron Bakery Sandwich and pita bread.
Golden Glen Creamery Milk.
Western Meats Sausage.
Lattin's Country Cider Mill and Farm Yummy apple and blackberry cider.
Community Agroecolology Network Coffee.
Olympia Food Co-op Assorted necessities.
South Sound Foodshed Project Local food sourcing project.
Bylaws
I. General1. NAME The name of the student run café funded by student fees is The Flaming Eggplant Café (hereinafter the Café).
2. PURPOSES The café has been formed under the Memorandum of Understanding between The Evergreen State College (TESC) and the Café as a student-run alternative to existing food service. The purpose of the Café is to use seasonal recipes based on food that is locally available and organically grown [and] to provide more enjoyable, nutritional, tasty, and ecologically sound food to TESC.
The mission is to nourish people with healthy ingredients, nurture local economy with our business, and break social boundaries to help sustain a unified community.
II. Membership
1. ELIGIBILITY All current students are members of the Café.
2. NON-DISCRIMINATION The Café strives to be egalitarian in all aspects of its business operations. The Café works to serve a diverse population by incorporating procedures and practices that remove barriers to classes of people who are oppressed or are denied power and privilege in society generally. These classes of people include people who are discriminated against based on race, sex, religious creed, age, disability, size, sexual orientation, gender orientation, marital status and economic status.
3. ANNUAL MEETING An annual meeting of the membership shall be held in May each year. Members will be notified of the place, day, and hour of the meeting prior to the meeting. In addition, notice of the meeting shall be posted at the Café at least 10 days prior. There must be the total number of employees and coordinators plus five in attendance at the annual meeting. The meeting will be lead by the coordinators, who are responsible for scheduling and providing notice of the annual meeting.
4. PURPOSE The purpose of the annual meeting is to provide an opportunity for the Board of Advisors (hereinafter the Board) and members to discuss the activities of the Café, this will be a forum for an exchange of information about the Café. The coordinators shall establish the agenda for the annual meeting in a manner that allows for Members to propose agenda items. Voting Members will elect Board members for the following year. Member proposals that require a vote must be submitted to the coordinators at least 30 days prior to the annual meeting.
5. MEMBER VOTING No proxies are allowed and each present member shall have one vote. Unless otherwise specified in these bylaws, or by law, a simple majority vote of those in attendance is required for elections and other membership actions. Additional rules and procedures for elections shall be set up by the coordinators as appropriate.
6. SPECIAL MEETING Half of the members that voted at the previous annual meeting may petition for a special meeting of the membership to take place within 90 days from the filing of the petition with the Board. The petition shall state the business to be discussed at the special meeting and the meeting shall be limited to such business. The Board may also call special meetings. The members shall be notified of the special meeting 10 days prior and the notice shall contain the time, place, and agenda of the special meeting. Coordinators are responsible for scheduling and facilitating special meetings.
7. COMMUNICATION Members shall maintain free-flowing communication with the Board, Staff, and other members.
III. Board of Advisors
1. GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES The affairs of the Café shall be managed by a Board of Advisors.
2. NUMBER, AND TERM The Board shall consist of nine members. The Board will consist of one staff selected by the vice president of student affairs, one staff selected by the vice president for finance and administration, one faculty and one staff selected by the membership of the Café, and five students selected by the membership. Of those five students one must be a coordinator, one must be a non-coordinator, and one must not be directly involved in the Café. Student members must be enrolled at least two quarters during a calendar year. Board members will serve for one twelve month term, which will last from October 1 through September 30. Board members terms are renewable after confirmation by vote of members at the annual meeting.
3. ELIGIBILITY Any member is eligible to serve on the Board.
4. ELECTION OF BOARD MEMBERS Board members shall be elected by the membership, except for the staff representatives appointed by the vice president. The Board may prescribe the manner and procedures for membership elections, except that elections shall be held annually. Coordinators are responsible for presenting a ballot to the annual meeting. The membership will decide which coordinators will sit on the Board.
5. VACANCIES In the event of a vacancy on the Board of Advisors, the remaining Board members may appoint a new advisor. The appointed advisor shall serve until the next Board election. Any Board appointed advisor is eligible to run for an elected term at the next election.
6. DECISION MAKING Board decisions are made by consensus minus-one. In the even that consensus minus-one is not reached the Board can send an issue for vote to the annual meeting or special meeting.
7. QUORUM For purposes of Board action, unless otherwise specified or required by law, a quorum shall be a majority of the seats currently filled. The Board may not convene without at least five seats filled.
8. CONFLICT OF INTEREST Advisors shall be under an affirmative duty to disclose an actual or potential conflict of interest in any matter under consideration by the Board. Advisors having such an interest may not participate in the discussion or decision of the matter unless otherwise determined by the Board.
9. REIMBURSEMENT The Café may, if authorized by a general Board resolution, reimburse individual advisors for transportation and or childcare expenses required to attend Board and committee meetings. To be eligible for reimbursement the advisor must be present for the entire meeting.
10. REMOVAL Any of the nine advisors or group coordinators may be removed by the Board whenever the Board determines that such removal will be in the best interest of the Café. Before an advisor or coordinator is removed, they shall be given two weeks prior notice and an opportunity to speak before the Board at a regular meeting. Removal shall require a consensus minus-one vote of the Board.
11. RESIGNATION An advisor may resign by submitting a written resignation to the Board with thirty days notice. Absence from three (3) Board meetings in a Board members term without providing prior notification shall constitute resignation from the Board. Exceptions to this policy may be made by consensus of the Board.
12. BOARD DUTIES Except as to matters reserved to membership by law or by these bylaws, the business and affairs of the Café shall be directed by the Board of Advisors. The major duties of the Board are to:
0. 1. appoint facilitator and note taker at each meeting The coordinators will convenes the Board, and be responsible for keeping minutes, creating the agenda and passing on records;
0. 2. maintain bylaws and keep minutes of meetings;
0. 3. approve an operating budget annually;
0. 4. monitor the financial health of the Café;
0. 5. appoint standing and special committees as needed;
0. 6. approve major capital projects of over $3300 per item;
0. 7. maintain free-flowing communication between the Board, Staff, committees, and the membership;
0. 8. resolve organizational conflicts after all other avenues of resolution have been exhausted;
0. 9. authorize debt obligations of the Café over $5000;
0. 10. provide an annual report to the members to include a financial report, committee reports, and a summary of other significant events held and actions taken by the Café during the year.
11. approve students selection of the Café’s coordinators.
13. SUPREMACY The Board shall not exercise any power under these bylaws which is in conflict with the Memorandum of Understanding or applicable law.
14. MEETINGS It is recommended that the Board meet at least ten times per year and the Board is required to meet a minimum of four times per year. Board meetings shall normally be open to the membership. The Board may close meetings at its discretion to discuss personnel matters, legal matters, or other items which require private discussion. Extra Board meetings or special meetings may be called at the discretion of the Board or by petition of 25 members, provided that the petition specifies the business to be conducted at the meeting. Votes may be taken at a special meeting for the business the meeting was called for if the membership was notified 10 days prior.
15. ACTION WITHOUT MEETING The Board may act without meeting if all advisors consent. The action shall be recorded in writing at the time it is made and included in the minutes of the next Board meeting. Any action taken under this procedure shall be fully effective.
IV. Staff and Coordinators
MAJOR RESPONSIBILITIES The major responsibilities of the Staff and Coordinators are to:
A. Coordinators will be selected at a public meeting during spring quarter for the following fall quarter. Coordinators must have prior experience with the café.
B. Coordinators are responsible for hiring hourly student labor.
C. Keep the store functioning and open regular hours. This includes promptness.
D. Present comprehensive financial statements to the Board quarterly or as requested and prepare books for the end of the fiscal year on June 30th;
E. Work with the accounting office to ensure accurate financial management;
F. Maintain accurate and up-to-date business records, articles, membership meeting minutes, staff meeting minutes, and required reports; and make these documents accessible to members.
G. Maintain accurate and up-to-date records of the names and addresses of all business entities with an active relationship with the café;
H. Maintain adequate food service insurance;
I. Regularly update the Board about personnel policies and employee benefit programs;
J. Maintain systems for control of all operations;
K. Maintain adequate channels for taking and responding to member suggestions, recommendations, and complaints;
L. Maintain all facilities in good repair and in sanitary and safe condition;
M. Provide effective and consistent programs for consumer information;
N. Maintain free-flowing communication between Staff, Board, committees, and the membership;
O. Carry out Board decisions and/or membership decisions made in compliance with these bylaws;
P. Carry out all activities and act in accordance with applicable law;
Q. Approve the make-up of hiring committee, approve job descriptions, and approve a hiring policy;
R. Fill Board vacancies as needed;
S. Adopt major policy changes and review Café future plans;
T. Ensure compliance with all TESC obligations as well as local and state government requirements;
U. Establish and review the café goals and objectives;
V. Adopt policies which promote achievement of the mission statement and goals of the Café.
V. Dissolution
1. BOARD ACTION In order to voluntarily dissolve the Café, the Board of Advisors must adopt a resolution recommending dissolution and direct that the question of dissolution be submitted to a vote of the membership.
2. NOTICE Appropriate notice of the vote must be provided by Special Meeting Clause in the Bylaws.
3. VOTE NEEDED The Café can be dissolved by a 2/3 vote of the active voting membership. No other business may be transacted at a special meeting called for the purpose of dissolving the Café or on a ballot issued at the special meeting for the purpose of dissolving the Café.
4. PROCEDURE Upon dissolution of the Café the Board shall supervise the conclusion of business, the paying of debts, and the distribution of assets.
VII. Amendment
These bylaws may be changed by the Board of Advisors with 30 days written notice to the membership. For changes to the bylaws to come into effect, it must be voted on at the annual meeting or a special meeting.
These Bylaws came into effect on the inaugural meeting of the Board of Advisors, July 15, 2008.
Memorandum of Understanding
Memorandum of Understanding for Flaming Eggplant Café Student InitiativeThe Flaming Eggplant’s mission, goals, and scope as of spring 2008 include:
0. Mission: “The Flaming Eggplant seeks to nourish people with healthy ingredients, nurture local economy with our business, and break social boundaries to help sustain a unified community.”
0. Goals: “To use seasonal recipes based on food that is locally available and organically grown [and] to provide more enjoyable, nutritional, tasty, and ecologically sound food to T.E.S.C.”
0. Scope: Operate a student-run café via a custom-designed food trailer in Red Square and a prep kitchen located outside of the Campus Utilities Plant from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Monday through Friday beginning in September of 2008. The hours of operation may expand in the future. The Café will relocate to a designated space in the CAB following the renovation.
In light of the substantial costs and risks associated with this initiative the College and Café have identified stipulations described below within which the Café may operate. The College will provide qualified professional advising to the student leaders of the Café, during start-up and early establishment, in an effort to support the Café’s success in meeting the stated expectations. In the future, as it is deemed viable and necessary by the Board of Advisors, funding for advisors’ time, a dedicated full-time manager, and the supervision of the manager must be identified by the Flaming Eggplant.
The Vice President for Student Affairs and the Vice President for Finance and Administration, as College representatives, reserve the right and responsibility to temporarily pause or permanently halt operations of the Café at any time. The Board should be consulted when the College is considering restricting operations. The Board of Advisors also has the responsibility to pause or halt operations if it deems it necessary. Cause for temporarily or permanently halting operations includes, but is not limited to, failure to adhere to one or more stipulations identified in this memorandum.
Stipulations for the Café to operate are as follows:
BOARD OF ADVISORS
The Flaming Eggplant must, in partnership with the Vice Presidents, establish a Board of Advisors to provide oversight for the Café. The Board should meet twice per quarter throughout the year. The Board should be composed of the following:
- two advisors appointed by the Vice Presidents;
- one faculty and one staff identified by the Flaming Eggplant leadership; and
- five student representatives of the Café.
The Flaming Eggplant is responsible for convening the Board.APPROVALS
- The Campus Land Use Committee (CLUC) approves the use of the location. The exterior of the Café facilities must be consistently maintained to the satisfaction of the CLUC.
- The Space Management Committee approves the use of space for storage and a prep kitchen in the CAB.
- The food service provider and the College approve an exception to the Exclusive Rights clause of the contract with the College’s food service provider. As per the College’s contract, Aramark has exclusive access to provide on-campus catering services and to provide meal plan packages.
- The Café must obtain and maintain an Operating Permit from Thurston County Public Health and Social Services Department. The Café must demonstrate that it can consistently meet county health codes and pass impromptu county health department visits. Copies of health inspection reports must be submitted to the Adviser within 24 hours of receipt.
- Adviser approves Business Plan including but not limited to cost and revenue projections, staffing model, and planned equipment purchases.
- Adviser approves staff job descriptions
- Business Services approves all cash handling policies.
FINANCIAL MANAGEMENT- All funds collected by the Café will be deposited into the appropriate College accounts on a daily basis and will be handled according to Business Services’ approved policies.
- Sales revenue and labor costs must be documented daily and these plus the cost of sales must be submitted weekly to the Adviser.
- Monthly profit/lost statements must be submitted to the Advisor by third day of the following month.
- The S&A Board and by relationship the Café, is responsible for the fiscal integrity of the Café. The S&A board may choose to delegate responsibility for and approval of capital expenditures to the Board of Advisors, with the stipulation that The Flaming Eggplant update the S&A board twice annually. The College recognizes the opportunity of the Café to pursue alternate funding sources.
GENERALOnly enrolled students may engage in leadership of the Flaming Eggplant Initiative.
The College recognizes that the Café meets a need for food alternatives on campus. As such, the Café may be come a valuable resource of the Evergreen community, particularly during the CAB renovation.
The College and the Advisory Board reserve the right to request modification of this memorandum at any time if the changes that may result will be implemented at least one month after the request.